These days, slips are meant to show

For generations of women, "It's snowing in the South!" meant their slips were showing. Now, with lingerie style running rampant, there is no need to be embarrassed. It's a look. Some designers are even building errant slips into their dresses.

For a series of sexy cocktail numbers in his resort collection, Davis Church, a young designer, installed strips of satin behind and above the bodice and an extra pair of straps. When the regular straps fall off the shoulder a bit (they're designed to do so), one gets a peek of satiny slip.

Indeed, many women shop vintage clothing stores looking for those old Hollywood-style satin slips, in luscious colors like peach, to wear out at night as dresses.

None of this should be a surprise in a world where women run in their jogging bras, bathing suits have garter-belt straps and athletic shorts are trimmed in lace. Fashion is being shaken to its foundations.